I read (and photographed) Bax's Hieronymus Bosch – His picture writing deciphered. That's the one in the British Library (translated by his wife, I think, M.A. Bax-Botha). What's the name of that Last Judgment book, I'd be very interested in that.
Author Bax states that the woman and man INSIDE the pink fruit in the front are a couple, of which both commit adultery.
Behind the fruit are two young men, one with a flower in his hand (feminine symbol), the other has sort of a strawberry (with flowery butterfly wings) on his back. It has a thorny stem with a flower near his anus. Probably a hint at the peccary’s contra naturam.
Orchids with butterfly-like wings had butterfly names, and parts were much loved aphrodisiacs. Capella could mean meretrix, and “little moth” meant darling. The third man watches.
I might add that there are some six similar trio relationships on Love Garden.
It seems Bosch not only disliked such adultery, but perhaps was afraid for it…
Bax has much of interest to say with knowledge deep and wide of the 16th century vernacular – I've read his book (difficult to get hold of in English – I read it in the British Library at Kings Cross). I tend not to engage too strenuously with his sort of analysis as I try to restrict my reading of the painting as far as possible to what is there on the surface, and try to penetrate the relationships between the characters – and explicating the action between them. The symbology I leave to symbologists and others with great knowledge.
I read (and photographed) Bax's Hieronymus Bosch – His picture writing deciphered. That's the one in the British Library (translated by his wife, I think, M.A. Bax-Botha). What's the name of that Last Judgment book, I'd be very interested in that.
Sorry, I did not see your question, it’s placed way above my comment.
The book is:
Titel: Hieronymus Bosch and Lucas Cranach
ISBN: 9780444855459
Taal: Engels
Uitgever: KNAW
Bijzonderheden: two last judgements triptychs
At the moment it is second hand (often as good as new) offered for just €29,95. It’s with B&W illustrations, but 471 pp!
(Cont.)
Author Bax states that the woman and man INSIDE the pink fruit in the front are a couple, of which both commit adultery.
Behind the fruit are two young men, one with a flower in his hand (feminine symbol), the other has sort of a strawberry (with flowery butterfly wings) on his back. It has a thorny stem with a flower near his anus. Probably a hint at the peccary’s contra naturam.
Orchids with butterfly-like wings had butterfly names, and parts were much loved aphrodisiacs. Capella could mean meretrix, and “little moth” meant darling. The third man watches.
I might add that there are some six similar trio relationships on Love Garden.
It seems Bosch not only disliked such adultery, but perhaps was afraid for it…
His wife was very important for his career.
Bax has much of interest to say with knowledge deep and wide of the 16th century vernacular – I've read his book (difficult to get hold of in English – I read it in the British Library at Kings Cross). I tend not to engage too strenuously with his sort of analysis as I try to restrict my reading of the painting as far as possible to what is there on the surface, and try to penetrate the relationships between the characters – and explicating the action between them. The symbology I leave to symbologists and others with great knowledge.
A few books by Bax are in English, but unfortunately not the one on the Garden.
TIP: you can check the second hand market via boekwinkeltjes.nl
The site is fairly easy to use, and sometimes a rare book (on the St.Anthony) with some writing in it goes far below the worth.
One other very thick book sometimes goes for €10/20 (+ postage of course). It’s the one mainly about the Last Judgment/Vienna.
(And the Berlin copy by Cranach).
Illustrations are always in B&W.
THE PLAINEST LADY
A nice deeper analysis of this detail of Love Garden!
I’d like to add what Bax wrote about it. Let me first test if this can be posted…